Miniature-baseball game-board apparatus



1,599,270 J. D. TAGGART MINIATURE BASEBALL .GAME BOARD APPARTUS FiledDec. 3, 1921 LY ou. Ham:

SCORE CARD HO E CLU Patented Sept. 23, 1924,

isa?

JAMES D. TAGGART, OF DBUMRIG-IT, KLAHOMA.

MINIATURE-BASEBALL GAME-BOARD APPARATUS.`

Application filed December 3, 1921. Serial No. 519,614.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a game boardapparatus for' playing miniature baseball indoors, and in such wise astorepresent the national game of baseball.

Another purpose ,is to provide an apparatus of` this kind, wherein theuse of base runners is eliminated, in view of the fact that they wouldbe in the'way, while onthe board, thereby preventing the players fromplaying the game to the best advantage,

` and in the absence of base runners it is the `aim to utilize what maybe termed as a scorerin combination with the game board apparatus, so asto keep tallyof the points of advantage and disadvantage during theprogress of the game, hence eliminating the use otsuch base runners,which would otherwise be knocked oft of the board during the playing ofthe gamej Another purpose is that all the points or plays made on thisgame board apparatus i either advances or retards the scoring of eachplayer; Furthermore, there are no plays or points, such as strike one,or ball one, etc., as this would merely prolong the game and the gamewould become l monotonous. l i

A further purpose is that the game board apparatus has applied thereonmost of the ordinary plays or points that arise in a game of baseball,and these have been arranged on the board, so that each player will makeabout the same number of put outs and assists and advantages, as may bemade by players playingy the actual 'national game on la ield.

It is obvious that only one player may play the game, and in this casethe player usually acts as the umpire, scorer, pitcher, etc., for bothsides. However to secure the best results two players should take partin the game.

Still a further purpose is the provision of a game board apparatus, inconnection with which improved set of rules are used. These rules do notconflict with the rules of the otiicial game, and are made as brief aspossible, yet plain enough that a child may understand them, and beforestarting the game the rules should be read carefully.

Additionally the invention aims to provide a game board apparatus, inconnection with which, may be used scoring members, which in the presentinstance may be termed as balls, three in number, to be used by theopposing players, and which may be pitched upon the game board in orderto cover or partly cover any one of the points of advantage ordisadvantage, for making up the score of the player. These scoringmembers b or balls are fiat and may be smooth, in order to permit themto strike properly on the board and to allow them to slide to someextent when they strike the board, thereby eliminating a certain amountof science in pitching, and in this way giving a player who may be apoor pitcher, about the same chance to win as a good pitcher.

Vhile the design and construction at present illustrated and set forthare deemed preferable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction ofthe invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, theinvention may be susceptible of changes and the right to these changesis claimed, provided they are comprehended within the scope ot what isclaimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination ot parts, as4will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure l is a plan view of the improved game boardapparatus constructed in accordance with the invention, showing thevarious points of advantage or disadvantage as applied thereon;

Figure 2 is a view of the score card or scorer;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a series of flat scoring or tossing membersused in playing the game;

Figure 4 is a view showing a collection of symbols used in representingthe points of advantage and disadvantage on the scorer or score card,and also the approximate definitions of the symbols.

Figure 5 is a view showing example number l for using the symbols shownin A ber 2`l'for using the. symbols defined in the specification. andthose illustrated in y Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, l designates agame board appara-tus which maybe any Suitable shape or proportions, and constructed of any suitablematerial, ysuch as Wood, fibre or the like. The game board has printed,lithographed, or otherwise applied thereon an outline yof a baseballfield 2, which is surrounded by a tence, and also printed, lithographedor otherwise applied on the fieldis a baseball diamond 4e, and 5designates home plate, 6, 7 and 8 first, second andthird'bases, while 9denotes the pitchers box. lVliile these parts have been so desig nated,and wouldy lead one to believe the runners were used in moving aboutover the board, they` lare merely mentioned, in order to represent atrue outline of a baseballl field. ln playing the game scoring membersor what may be termed as balls 10, are used in connection with the gameboard apparatus. These scoring members or balls are flat and smooth oneither face, in fact circular, and their opposite faces have the usualindication of baseball stitches 11, in ordery to represent a ball.

Rules for playing the game.

The game board is laced on any table in a manner, which wou d permit thedifferent points of Iadvantage and disadvantage to be easily read.

The player then steps back a desired distance from the game board, sayfor instance approximately seven or eight feet, which may be variedaccording to the desires of the players, then the iirst player tossingthe balls one at a time on the board, the idea being to make the ballslight fiat upon the board so that they will not roll off. However, ifthe balls do roll oti, or even one' or two of them roll ofi', count theone or those that stop on a play. Then take all three of the ballsandpitch them over as before. ln fact should the thro-e balls or scoringmembers roll ofi pitch all of them over again. In otherfwords keeppitching the balls, until all three llight upon the board. It is obviousthat should the balls or scoring mein` bers which may be furnished withthe game beconi'elost, pennies may be used as a very good substitute, orany other suitable flat piece of metal circular in shape.

Considerable care should be taken as'to which was the first, the secondandthe third ballon the board, otherwise it might make a y difference inthe game. F or instance should ball one stop on one base hit, and ballltwo stop on home run making two scores for the player, and if theseballs should be remembered reversely, :in fact ball two counted as ballone, and ball one as ball two, it would give butone score for theplayer, which would make quite a difference 1n counting up the score ofthe game.

The rule for scoring.

The scorer is the, opposing player and is also the umpire. Abbreviationsshould be used in scoring the game such as, if the ball stops on ()utshort to first base the abbreviation should be 53. to l. 7,Out third tofirst base use 3 to l. Fly out center field use E O. C. Foul outfFo. Op.Out second to first base use 2 to l.A Out at first base usel 1. Outcatcher to first base use (1. to l. wWild pitch use l/. P. Passed balluse 1). B. Stolen base use S B. Out stealing use 0. Si. Errorany base orany other player use the letter E for error and abbreviate theplay'esposition. For out hit by batted ball use 0. H. B. For ball fouruse this sign 4 For hit by pitcher7 use this sign d. For one base hituse this sign i. FortWo base hit use this sign L;.. For three vbase hituse` this sign L i. For home run use this sign [fecunda-The batter getsa one base i, The next batter gets hit by pitcher kadvance the runner oniirst base to secondV base this Way using the fourth part of a square.Put the batter on first base this `Way 1'. The next batter gets ballfour d.

Advance both runners already on bases; The runner on second base goes`to thirdy base this way ill. The runner on tirst vbase goes to secondbase this way (L PU the batter on first base this way 'l lling all thebases. We

Will say the short stop makes an error, use this sign E.S.'1. This letsthe batter reach first base. All runners on bases advance one base.

The runner on third scores, this way y The error, letting the batterreach first base, useA this sign E31. He advances to secondbaseZ thepitcher balking use-this sign E515- He.

advances to third base on a passed ball, use this sign -He scores on aWild pitch, use this sign -Ej- Balk use B H ow to usescore card.

The ampi@ @ma ha autres. c

The umpire, whoin thepresent instance is one of the players determineswhether or not the ball or scoring memberis touching more than the oneindication. If the ball or scoring member is touching more than oneindication, neither indication shall count. However, the player isentitled to pitch over again, until the ball or scoring member properstops on only one indication.

The ball or scoring member does not have to entirely cover` an.indication. For instance just so it 4is touching one. of the indicationsit is all that is necessary. In cases where the ball or scoring memberof a player alights on the gameboard apparatus and overlaps another balllor scoring member, only the ball thattouches theindication counts. v

Impossible plays.

In cases of impossible plays, such as (steal second base) and there'isno scoreon the card indicatingA that a player has thrown a ball tendingto indicatean advance to first i base, the pitch of `the ball or scoringmember would not count. This is called an impossible play. `Anotherimpossible play is the act of tossinga ball or scoring inember on anindication stating out stealing home, when the player has just startedmember on an indication stating advance to third base from home. Inother words if there is no score on the card indicating that a supposedrunner had made third base, it`

would be impossible to indicate on the score r card any such advance asout stealing home.

Ar. inning.

`nach pitch@ Shan pitch the bans on the each pitcher has pitched untilthree outs are madethis shall be called an inning. `It is obviousthateach Vgame consists otnine ini nings,funless at the end of nineinningsthe score is a tie. In that event, each pitcher` shall keep on pitchingas before, until one begin at the top` side has scored more runs thanVthe other in the same number of innings.

Error.

a mitting the player to apply a symbol, which constitutes anerrorVsupposedly made by the man in the ield, and thisl gives the`player an advanced score on the score card.

` O/Uerthrows.

Where a player has thrown `a scoring member or ball on the game boardalighting it on an indication stating overthrowf Supposedly either bythe catcher, the batter has bunted the ball in front of home base, andthe catcher has endeavored to put him `out at rst base, or has thrownwild to another base, or has apparently made a bad throw whichapparently the first baseman could not catch, the player indicates ascore onthe `card as though a runner has advanced to second base,advancing the score of the game.` `All other supposed runners advancetwo bases.

If a player tosses a ball or scoring member on an indication statingshort stop over-` thi'ows, a score is applied" to the score cardindicating advance to second base. In this case'all other supposedrunners or men advance two bases.

Base Ms.

One base hit, two base hit, or three base hit, meaning that the supposedbatter` has hit a `ball from the pitcher, a safe to fair territory,where thebasemen or fielders cannot catch, the player is entitled toindicate on the score card a score equal to as many.

bases, as stated on the indication, for instance three bases, or a homerun.

Base hits in cases where a player throws a ballor scoring member on anindication runners on bases. scores, etc., the player indicates on thescore card an indication stating that the supposed runner has made onemore base than the batter is entitled to.

om@ run.

Where a player tosses` a ball or scoring member on an indication statinghome run, the player indicates on the score card a symbol to sucheffect, and in this case all the supposed runners already on bases shallscore. In other words when counting up the score, the player counts thenumber of the score accordingly. In other words whenan inningl iscompleted, and the i score card states that there are so many supposedrun-` ners-onbases, theseV runners are counted as having madehome-plate, therefore a scoreis read accordingly.

Out strike three. `When a player has-thrown a ball or scoringmember onan indication of the boardv stating out strikethree, it is supposed thatal batter had made three strikes Vat the ball andmissed, thereforefailing to advance the score. n

Flyout.-

When a player throws a ball or scoring member on an indication on whichit states a fly out, it means that a supposed ball has beenknocked inthe air, and thus, therefore thjebatter is out,v and the score firstindicating certain supposed runners or men on bases shall not be used tomake an` advance in the score. YIn other words the batter is outandnobase` runner shall be allowed to advance unless the abbreviation (S. A.C.)

meaning sacrifice is on it, then all base run- Aners are referred to.

ners-shalljadvance one base.

As previously stated there are no men or runners or checkers or the likeused, to move over the surface of the game board, therefore in thebalance of the description run- This does not mean that runners areactually vused over the surfaceof the board, but simply supposedly.

au'gh-t o# of my base. Meaning the pitcher or catcher has thrown .theball to a baseman and he has touched the runner out before he could getback on the base.

i Stolen bases. Stealing any 'base means that the base runner hasadvanced a base without the aid ofan error, sacrifice,`or base hit. Ifthere is, avrunner on third base, and a runner on firstbase, if the ballstops on the play, (stolen base)` advance the runner on. first base tosecond base. Never advance therunnerv on third base to home on the play`(stolen base) iflthere is a runner on first base. If there is a runneron second' and a runner on third base youwould have to advance therunnerv onthfird base tolhome scoring him.y Never advance both runners.-Out stealing-angherie.

Meaning the runner tried to advancea base, :without the aid of anerror-, or base hit, butk was; thrown out.

l pitcher topfirst base. 1out third to iirst base, short'to base,'second to first base, or out at knocked a.

firstfirst base, ground ball, meaning the batter has.v round b all to,the. iirstnamed; pla-yenwhoz as fielded thefb'all and throwinthe runnerout` at iirstbase. (Outat first base ground ball) meaning the batter hasknocked a ground ball to the rst baseman which he hasfieldedf4 andtouched first basebefore the runner 'could get to firstbase. Oni all"of* these plays allbase runners on bases shall advance* one `base exceptfrom thirdto home.` When there are-runners on all of the bases andwith-no outs or one out,

and a ground ball is knocked to the pitcher, short stop, or any baseman,instead of throwing the-ball to first base as the play reads, use theplay out pitcher to home, out third to home, out second to home, etc.,cutting the vopposing.'runner off at home.

Thisjlets the batter reach {ir-st base, other base runners advance'onebase."v

gaat wir.. (SAU) -Meaningthe batter has tapped the ball to one ofthein-elder-s, such aspitcher, third baseman, short stop, ete-or towardsfirst base-or just in front of home-base but the opposing' playerhas-fielded the ball throwing` the runner out at first base. allbaserunners one-base. The-batteris out.

Burnt safe.l Meaning ai@ bai-,ar mapped the bau to one ofthein-fielders, wholcould"not iieldl the ball in time to throwthefrunnerout at p Wild pitch.' p Meaningthe pitcher has "thrown wild to'Advancethecatcher whichallows allbase runners to s advancey lone base.first base, in this game.

Passed baza.

Meaning a ball thrown by the pitcher that` the catcher does not stop orcatch. This allows all base vrunners toad-Vance one base.A Thev battervdoes nottake first base. in thisgame.

Balls.

Any motion by thi-,pitcher wim@- in position to deliver the ball tothebat withoutv delivering it, or tothrow to rst base when Occupied. by abeisammen Without.- Completingv the throw iscalled ra balk. (There aremorerules: onbalkingthe oiiicialrule A,book y Spalding or Reachfbut thiswill A'show enough syou can understand whatismeant by; a balk).

base.V The batter doe'sjnottake first base in this-.seme- T'he batterdoes not takeV All'base runners advance one `base pretends he is Ballfour.

strike. This entitles the batter to iirst base.`

If first base beoccupied by base 'runner advance the runneiI on first tosecond.' Iffirst and second base be occupied by base runners advanceboth runners one base. If only second or third base be occupied -by arunner gont advance the runner already on the ase.

Htt by pitcher. MeaningV the pitcher has accidental` hit the batter witha pitched ball. This entitles the batter to first base. Advance therunner on iirst base, etc., the same as ball four.

Mun nearest home out `zftt by batted ball.

4hfeaning the batter hits a ball this ball v The runner is out thebatter goes to first base.

Intentional pass.

If the manat bat has been hitting the pitcher pretty regular, thepitcher sometimes gives the batter four'balls in order to get to pitchto a weaker batter providing the bases are not full. In this vgame theintentional pass can be used at willl by telling the scorer to put thisbatter .on `first base. The

next man in order goes to bat. d Out jrstto pitcher at first base;

Meaning the batter has hit a ground ball towards first base. The firstbaseman going after the ball the pitcher covers first base. Firstbaseman throws the ball to the pitcher putting the batter `out before hecan reach first base. Allbase runners advance one base in this game.

Out first to second at first base.

Meaning the same as out first to pitcher at first base with thisdierence. The second baseman vcovers first base instead of the pitcher.

Out second to home.4

In order to make this play there must be a runner on third base. Thebatter hits a ball to the second baseman. man throwing the ball to thecatcher. The catcher tags the runner from third base out at home. Thebatter reaches iirstbase other base runners advance one base.

Out catcher to short to home. Y

To make this play there must be a runner on third base and either arunner on rst or second base. If the runners are on second and thirdbase, etc., the runner on second vgoing to third base trying to get thecatcher to throw to second base catching him ofi1 of second base andletting The second basea runner on first base.

V ing the runner from third base out at home.

If the runners are on first and third base the runner on first basepretends to steal second base the result is the same as above stated.

Doub le plays.

lGut short to second to lirst. In order to make this play there must bea runner on first base. The batter hits a ground ball to the short stopwho throws the runner from first out at second base. The second basemanthrows the batter out at first base. If the bases are full use the playout short to home meaning the runner onthird base is thrown out at homeby the short stop. In cases where the play is used out short'to home thebatter reaches first base. If there is a runner on second base advancehimto third base on either of these plays. If there is not a runner oniirst base do not use this play at all. (See impossible plays.) A

\ double play cannot be made if there are more than one out;`

Flg/ out to Leftfield then` throws rumzcrifrom third out at home.

Oat pito/ter to tlw'rclto first. In order to make this play there mustbe a runner on second base and not more than one` out. This play canalso be made if there are runners on both first and second base. Thebatter hits a ground ball to the pitcher the pitcher throws the ball tothird base catching the runner from second out at third base. The thirdbaseman throws the batter out at first. If there are runners on both rstand second base advance the ruimer on iirst to second base. If there aretwo outs and a runner on second base use the play out pitcher to thirdbase. If there is no runner on second base do not try to use this play.(See impossible plays.)

Out secr/nd to Short at second base.

In order to make this play there must be The batter knocks a ground ballto the second baseman. The

runner on first base starts for second base.

The second baseman fields the ball and throws it to the short stop whocovers second base putting the runner from first base out. This iscalled a force out. The batter llO reaches iirsl; base. If there is arunner on second base, advance him to third base. It the runner 1s thirddont use this play unless there are two outs.

Uitdaging pitchers.

' A pitcher may be taken out, (changed for another' pitcher) any time inthis game by telling the umpire. For an example;V say, you are pitchingleft handed and Wantto change pitchers for a right handed pitcher.Tellthe umpire and merely change and pitch right handed. Never letanother man pitch in yourplace as this Would be a new team taking yourteams place.

In order to make it clear as to the manner orp playing the game, theplayer pitches or tosses the members representing` balls, on the board,and it tWo of the members roll and one stops on the play out short tofirst base, count the member that stops on the play. In other Wordsindicate the following symbol S to l on the score card, which symbolmeans out short to iirst base.

NOW take all three of the members as before and pitch one at a time, andit one rolls ofi', notice which Was the irst one on the board,.thatstopped on a play. For instance if one stops on the play error thirdbase put the symbol and abbreviation designating this point on the scorecard. Say the other one stops on the play steal second base, advance thesupposed runner to second base using the abbreviation and symboldesignating the same.

i Y Take all three of the members representv ing lthe balls and pitchover as before, and should the iirst one stop on out strike 3 use theabbreviation and symbol. Should the next member representing the ballstop on hunted out7 use catcher to first base sacrifice.7

This would end the pitchers halt' inning. The player' sits down and hisumpire and scorer, While the opposing. player (supposed to be thebaseball teams pitcher) is pitching. This player or pitcher thenpitchesuntil threeouts are made, and this is called the second players halfinning. Y

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is: Y j

Inl a game apparatus, a game board provided With a cluding home plate,foul lines extending from the home plate, a fence connecting theterminals of the foul lines, therebyl fencing cui' the outiield,baseball representations including baseball symbols applied'upon theface ot `the diamond and over the outfield, the fence and beyond thefence, thereby indieating advantages and disadvantages, and a chart ofsymbols corresponding to the ad vantagek and disadvantage symbols on theboard, Aand a plurality of members vhaving' baseball representationsthereon adapted 'to be tossed upon the game' board, Yforcooperation-With the symbols on the game board, in combination with ascore card ruled With intersecting lines tof-definefcolumns for thenumbers or players andcolumns for the ditferent innings, eachcolumiifconsisting of a plurality `of spaces'vvithin which maybeinscribed the indicia corresponding to the results obtained byregistration. of the playing' members with the symbols on theboard.

- "In testimony'whereof I hereunto affix my signature. l 1 y Y' JAMES D.TAGGART.

baseball diamond thereon in-

